The scene continues at Deborah's mansion.
Deborah stood in the centre of the room, her eyes beaming with a sense of pride as she introduced Tamara to the pack. Hello, Pack. We have a new member, she declared, her voice powerful and forceful. "Please meet Tamara." Tamara gave a modest wave, her anxiety hidden by a courteous grin. The pack replied cordially, welcoming her with broad smiles and nods. You're welcome! You're welcome, they chorused, their voices filling the room with an aura of acceptance. As Tamara took in the warm greeting, Deborah continued with a grin. "I'm making an announcement right now because Tamara here was sired by me," she remarked, resting a hand on Tamara's shoulder. "We are born of blood, so, therefore, she is now my second in command." A collective gasp ran across the crowd, followed by clapping and murmurs of enthusiasm. "Wow," several voices whispered. There were smiles, nods, and claps from most of the group, as they acknowledged Tamara's unexpected increase in rank. But one individual stood apart from the eager crowd: Maria. She lingered in the shadows, her look dark and unreadable. Maria, previously Deborah's closest ally, felt the sting of betrayal. She had been sired by Deborah initially, years before Tamara ever came into the scene. Maria had always assumed that her commitment and expertise made her the logical option to be Deborah's second in charge. As the pack celebrated Tamara's promotion, Maria's heart boiled with mute wrath. The declaration was like a dagger, twisting in her gut. That position should have been mine, Maria thought cruelly. She clenched her fists, suppressing the need to lash out. Her gaze strayed toward Deborah, who was basking at the moment, ignorant of Maria's rising animosity. Later, when the ovation went down, Maria stepped up, her voice deceptively calm. "Deborah," she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly, I thought I was your most trusted. I was the one you sent first. Deborah turned to face Maria, her expression softening. Maria, you have always been important to me, but times change, and so do decisions. Tamara is the future. I trust her, and she has what it takes to lead when the time comes. Maria's jaw constricted. So, all my years of loyalty mean nothing now? She asked, her voice quiet but tinged with hate. Deborah lifted an eyebrow. It's not about loyalty, Maria. It's about vision. You're still a crucial component of the group, but Tamara has something special. This is about more than just who came first. The tension in the room was evident, and the other members of the pack exchanged nervous glances. Tamara stood silently, trapped between gratitude for Deborah's faith and the painful understanding that her climb to power had already generated controversy. Maria offered a quick nod, her eyes never leaving Deborah's. "Very well," she mumbled, walking back into the mob. But in her heart, Maria knew she would not allow this slight to go unchecked. She would bide her time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to regain what she believed was rightly hers. As the meeting finished and the pack departed, Tamara couldn't shake the feeling of Maria's frigid gaze lingering on her. Though she was now second in command, Tamara realized that her increased position had made her a target. Things were far from settled, she thought, her mind racing with questions of trust, loyalty, and the treacherous route ahead. The power war had just begun.
Deborah stood before the pack, her confidence radiating as she addressed them. "I am a teacher," and you are the pupil, she asserted confidently, her eyes shining. I have seen this world, and we are better and stronger than people. Tonight, we take another step toward that greatness. She paced in front of them, her voice echoing with authority. Our mission tonight is straightforward. We have to travel into the city and multiply our numbers. Deborah's smile broadened as she proceeded. Remember the code: if it's powerful blood, sire them. But if it's weak blood. She paused for emphasis, her eyes deepening. "Drain it to nothing." The group exploded into murmurs of agreement, some smirking in anticipation of the hunt ahead. But Tamara, standing among them, seemed distant—her thoughts far from the room. Doubts whirled in her head. Was this really what she wanted? Was she in the right location, doing the right thing? The weight of the night's objective pressed heavily on her, and she found herself questioning if she belonged among these guys who looked willing to kill. Deborah's voice cut through her thoughts, though at first, she didn't notice. Tamara? Tamara! Deborah called again, a sharp edge in her tone, drawing Tamara back to the present. Tamara blinked, recognizing everyone's eyes were suddenly on her. Deborah's gaze was steely, yet there was a spark of anxiety beneath her severe demeanour. "You need to focus," Deborah remarked forcefully, her eyes drilling into Tamara's. You have me and the entire pack to impress tonight. Got it? Tamara nodded, though her mind was still clouded with confusion. "Got it," she said, her voice softer than normal. Deborah grinned, satisfied. Good. Tonight, Tamara will lead you all. Show her the respect she deserves. The pack muttered their appreciation, but Tamara's chest constricted. She hadn't really comprehended what that meant until now. She was being put into a leadership role, expecting to guide them in the hunt for more blood. Yet, something inside her rebelled, a voice deep within suggesting that this road wasn't hers. But here she was, and the pack was waiting. As they prepared to move out, Tamara's thoughts raced. She realized she had to decide soon—whether to fully embrace this new world Deborah had exposed her to or find a way to flee before it consumed her totally.
As they went into the city on that deep, cold night, the vampires soon neared the residential sector. Their full vampire speed allowed them to attack houses like shadows, unnoticed until it was too late. Tamara found herself walking in the centre of the road, her mind in turmoil. Suddenly, she heard the shouts of humans being attacked, their voices filled with horror. The sounds cut through her, leaving her bitter and unsettled. Desperately, she covered her ears, attempting to drown out the screams and horrors happening around her. The remainder of the group was busy, bouncing on humans like ravenous predators, draining the weak, and warring with those whose blood was strong. Tamara, however, couldn't handle it. She stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. She could feel the urge to join them, although her conscience battled strongly against it. Maria had been watching her the entire time, noting Tamara's uncertainty. A mischievous smirk formed across her lips as she silently appraised her adversary. "I knew you couldn't do this," Maria thought. "You don't deserve to be second in command." Just then, a young girl ran out of her home, her face covered with tears, her voice raspy from shouting. Her family had been torn apart by the vampires, and now she had fled for her life. Maria's eyes fixated on the girl. She wasted no time, racing toward her with her fangs bared. She grabbed her, bringing her close, ready to sink her teeth into the girl's neck. But Tamara had seen enough. With a sudden burst of strength and speed, she launched herself at Maria, seizing her by the hair and tossing her hard into a nearby rubbish receptacle. The loud crash grabbed the attention of the other vampires, who swiftly crowded around the situation. Maria surged to her feet, her eyes flaming with rage. She turned to the group and cried," Look at her, the so-called second in charge! She'd rather protect humanity than her own kind. She's a traitor! Tamara pulled the terrified girl close, her voice quivering as she said, This isn't right. What has this human done wrong? Look at her—she's innocent! I won't let you damage her! Maria, seething with wrath, spat, Then you're ready to die alongside her. Attack! Several vampires pounced for Tamara, but she fought them off with strong determination. One by one, they fell under her strikes, their bodies disintegrating to ash as she defended herself and the tiny girl. The remainder of the vampires stood back, astonished at the intensity of her strength and talent. Meanwhile, Maria, tenacious in her pursuit of the girl, followed her inside a nearby residence. The small girl raced as fast as her legs could take her, her bare feet pounding against the chilly concrete as she darted into the night. Her young body shivered with fright, her eyes wide with terror at witnessing the slaughter at her home. She didn't stop glancing back; her only inclination was to leave. But Maria was unrelenting, her predatory gaze fixated on the girl, steadily following her through the darkness like a panther ready to leap. Maria's breath was shallow, filled with suspense. "You can run, little one, but there's nowhere to hide," she said under her breath, a cruel smirk curving her lips. Her fangs glistened under the weak streetlight as she moved, her every stride purposeful and frightening. Meanwhile, Tamara, having just slaughtered the group of vampires who had attacked her, felt an intense tug. She could sense Maria closing in on the small girl. With her vampire speed, she ran toward the scene, her mind racing with a single thought: she had to stop Maria. By the time Tamara reached them, Maria had already seized the girl, lifting her with one hand as if she weighed nothing. The girl shouted, her tear-streaked face full of horror. Maria leaned in, her sharp fangs bared, preparing to sink into the girl's neck. But before Maria could make her move, Tamara struck. With a loud shout, Tamara flung herself at Maria, knocking her to the ground. The girl fell backwards, her breath coming in ragged sobs as she sought to grasp the surrounding turmoil. Her tiny figure shook with fright, her huge eyes riveted on Tamara, unsure whether to leave or stay. Tamara crouched down, heartbroken for the girl. "Hey, you're safe now," she whispered quietly, offering her hand. "I'm not going to hurt you." The girl hesitated, peering uneasily between Tamara and the other vampires. Though they had just watched Tamara kill one of their own, their uncanny silence made them feel like they were waiting for something. But Tamara focused exclusively on the youngster in front of her, wanting to reassure her. The tiny girl wiped her eyes, sniffling, before cautiously grabbing Tamara's hand. "Thank you," she said, her voice shaking. Just as Tamara helped her up, one of the vampires walked forward, sneering with disgust. You betrayed your own kind for this. Human? His voice dripped with hatred. "You'll regret this!" Tamara's eyes narrowed. "I regret nothing." She drew the girl behind her, protecting her. If anyone else wants to test me, they're welcome to. A murmur raced among the vampires, but none dared to oppose her directly. The power shift was clear. Tamara had just slain Maria, one of the strongest among them. But her defiance had also put a target on her back. The leader of the pack, Deborah, had stood in the shadows, watching. She now stepped forward, her face unreadable.